Pressure in the Pentagon

Focus

Skills under pressure, Decision Making.

Skills

Handballing.

Purpose

Players must practice making correct decisions under pressure. This drill makes players under-the-pump size-up which teammates are free, and dispose accurately to them without telegraphing their intention to the opposition.

Groups of

Ages

9⁺

Balls/grp

Cones

Distance (max)

Opp. tops

Visible opposition strip: 2

Setup
Setup cones 5m apart in a pentagon shape per group of 7, each has a ball. Two opposition players (with bibs if available) start in the middle of the pentagon.
Step 1
(A) starts with the ball and must handball to any of the 4 teammates on the cones. (B) and (C) attempt to tag (A) prior to disposal, or intercept the handball.

The ball doesn't have to travel on the full, but the recipient must have a foot on the cone when receiving

Teammates assist by shouting directions to the player with the ball
Step 2
If (B) or (C) tag the player prior to disposal, or the handball misses the target via inaccuracy or interception, the player who turned the ball over exchanges places with the defender who caused it.

If a player in the middle has 3 turns without causing a turnover, swap both defenders with the handballer and intended recipient.
Step 3
Handballing players should:

Release quickly before the opposition can close them down

Telegraph their intention to handball in one direction, then handball elsewhere once a defender has committed to an intercept

Be reactive enough to stop their handball mid-action if their intended target is covered
Step 4
Defenders should:

Remember the preferred hand of the handballer and cover the targets easiest to dispose to

Work together to close down the space
Step 5
For added difficulty, introduce this variation after a few rotation: Players must use their right hand when handballing to the 2 players to their left, and their left hand to the 2 players to their right.
Step 6
Another variation is to move each cone 5m further out, and repeat the drill, this time with kicking.

To keep the pentagon uniform, coach or defender stands in the absolute centre; players pickup cones and take 5 large steps directly away from this player

Players must again remain on the cones at all times, so accurate kicking is critical.